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PSE: GLO

Exemplifies 21st Century learning through Global Filipino Schools Program

Globe Telecom and the Department of Education (DepEd) underscored
the importance of public-private partnerships for public schools and
how this efficiently drives the integration of information and
communication technologies in the Philippine education system.

Globe and DepEd were among the speakers at the recently-concluded
EdTechXAsia in Singapore with the theme “21st Century
Education and 21st Century Skills.”

In their presentation entitled “Public and Private Sector
Collaborations in the Philippines,” the Globe-DepEd team detailed
cases of successful and sustainable 21st century learning
collaborations across the country which enhanced educational growth
through various tools and techniques that use the digital learning platform.

Leading these collaborations is the Global Filipino School Program
(GFS), Globe Telecom’s flagship program for public school education
being implemented together with DepEd. This long term partnership
seeks to bridge the educational gap through the adoption and
application of technology in public schools as well as promote it as a
tool for learning in classrooms.

“Education and technology help us explore endless possibilities and
bridge new discoveries,” said Dr. Juliet Jeruta, regional director of
the Department Of Education regional office of Central Visayas. “It
helps us draw the best from everyone.”

Miguel Bermundo, Manager of Globe Citizenship said: “It is through
partnerships like these that we can jointly make the most impact in
increasing the quality of education in public schools. For its part,
Globe continues to commit itself to intensifying ICT education in the
country to help transform the lives of our youth by providing
environments that enable learning through technology and allowing them
to keep pace globally.”

The GFS Program offers a complete ICT package. It provides a
collaborative learning space in a public schools that optimizes the
use of ICT in schools. These hubs are equipped with mobile devices for
learning such as tablets, virtual reality goggles and projectors as
well as free internet connectivity to give teachers and students
access to the program’s online learning solutions, including the GFS
online library.

With the help of DepEd, the program also converts every GFS-equipped
school into the city’s or province’s training hub, thereby creating an
avenue for teachers in the area as well as neighboring provinces, to
undergo trainings and workshops. The program is especially beneficial
to teachers to help them optimize and integrate technology in everyday learning.

In a 2015 study by Taylor Nelson Sofres, results showed that the GFS
program successfully improved digital skills among teachers and
students, particularly in the usage of mobile technology and computer
software. Likewise, there was an increase in student engagement in
classroom activities as well as an enhanced school culture readiness
in ICT integration.

The program started with one pilot school in Bohol in Region 7 which
is known to be a strong advocate of ICT integration in the classroom
and for applying 21st century learning techniques in the public school setting.

At present, 142 schools from 16 out of 18 regions nationwide are
already implementing the program, with a goal of having at least one
GFS in all DepEd divisions by 2020.